Plenty for Twenty and other discounts!!

Beginning today you can access a variety of retired products that are available at discounted prices on my website! (http://melissaburch.myctmh.com/) Items will be added periodically and inventory can fluctuate, so make sure to check my website often to take advantage of these products at great discounts while supplies last!

Don't forget...during the month of December when you order $20 worth of products online, you will receive a popular stamp set FREE with your order! This only applies to online orders placed on my website. In addition, the first five customers who place orders on my site will receive an additional freebie from me, along with a coupon to be used on the new catalog coming in Febrary! Take advantage of these specials and get a little something for YOU this holiday season!! 

December Stamp of the Month Blog Hop

Welcome to the December Stamp of the Month Blog Hop! This month's stamp set is a super cute Valentine set that you can get for FREE with an order of $100 or more! If this is your first stop...get ready for a great ride! The hop is a circle, so you should end back here when you're finished. If you arrived here from Jenifer's blog, you're on the right path!

When we found out we were expecting a baby girl (yay!), I figured this set would be perfect for the first page of her scrapbook! This layout brought another first for me...in addition to being my first "girly" page, it was my first experience at stitching! It was so fun!

I used the December Stamp of the Month a few places on my layout...

 The "I Love You" stamp fit perfectly on the image I placed on the top of the layout.  It gave just a touch of color to the blush cardstock.

I used the larger heart stamp and stamped with crystal blue ink on blush paper.  I then cut out the heart and used foam tape to make the heart pop out from the page.

Around the small ultrasound picture, I used a portion of the heart border stamp from the Stamp of the Month set as my guide.  I stamped it in bamboo, so it was very light.  I then poked very small holes so I could stitch.  I wanted to make sure you still saw the heart shapes after the stitching was complete.   

Now, off to the next stop...Melissa Laverty's blog...for more creative artwork using the Stamp of the Month!  Make sure to leave a comment if you like what you see!  If you get lost along the hop, you can check out the whole list HERE. Have fun!! :)

Card Workshop

I still have three spots available for my Christmas Card Workshop this Sunday in Howell. If you are interested in attending, please contact me ASAP! (melissaburch@myctmh.com) Thanks! :)

November Stamp of the Month Blog Hop

Welcome to the November Blog Hop! This month's Stamp of the Month is called "A Little Thanks" and is a very versatile set!

If you arrived here from Kami's blog, you're on the right track! If this is your first stop, all you need to do is follow the links at the bottom of the posts and you'll have the opportunity to enjoy tons of creative ideas using this set! (For a complete list of participating blogs, click HERE.)

I created two cards using two of the new fall papers and the Stamp of the Month. The first card displays Olivia paper, colonial white waxy flax, and opaque pearls. I was going for something simple and elegant for this card.

My second card was created with the Hooligans paper pack and the Stamp of the Month. For this card, I used the paper weaving technique to spice up the background! I then picked the simple "thanks" stamp for the sentiment because the background was so busy.

I hope you enjoyed your stop here! Make sure to comment, then hop along to Haley's blog for more creative ideas!

Baby Skeleton Shirt

My sister-in-law saw a similar shirt on a blog earlier in the week, so I polished up my crafty skills, made a trip out for iron-on paper and a black shirt, and solicited help from my art teacher friend to create this masterpiece! It was a lot of work, but I think it turned out pretty well. All my students loved it! This pic will definitely be going into the baby book. :)

March Weekend Retreat

Spots are going quickly for our Spring Retreat at the Nature Center! Hope you'll join us!! :) Contact me today if you're interested!

Jump for Joy!

Jump for Joy in October! When your gathering total reaches a minimum of $450, you will be about to "jump" to the next level of Hostess Rewards! How cool is that?! Why not book your gathering for the end of October...there's still time!! Contact me today to book your gathering and take advantage of this fantastic offer!

October Stamp of the Month ~ Share the Magic

Welcome to the October Stamp of the Month Blog Hop!! Although Halloween is right around the corner, this month we're focusing on Christmas with the Stamp of the Month, Share the Magic! It's an adorable seasonal set that I know you will love!

If you arrived here from Annette's blog, you're on the right track! The hop is a circle, so keep hopping and once you end back here you'll know you saw all the fantastic ideas from the 70 consultants participating!

I created two projects this month. I was thinking about Christmas parties, so I created a wine bottle gift tag to give to the hostess and a small treat bag that could be used as a party favor or even a place card.

The wine tag has a little pocket, so you could add in a gift card or a Christmas Card before giving the gift. You could even add in some chocolate or a treat to enjoy with the wine.

I included pepermint candies in the treat bag, but you could also use this for a gift card or Christmas money.

Both projects used the new Mistletoe papers, the Share the Magic stamp set, Cranberry Ink, New England Ivy ink, Honey Ink, and Bitty Sparkles. The wine tag also has red sparkles added as ornaments on the tree. The treat bag is tied with the gold satin ribbon from the Mistletoe Creative Basics.

I hope my projects sparked your creativity! Don't forget to add a comment before hopping to the next stop on the hop, Carla's blog! If you get stuck along the hop, you can check out the list of blog participants HERE to continue on your way. Have fun! :)

There is a reason...

I've been a little lax on posting lately. I've been pretty wiped out! The reason? There is a little baby in my belly sucking out all my energy!! :) We are so excited to share our news...Baby Burch #3 will be here in March! My official due date is March 25. The boys are super excited! :)

11 weeks

(head at bottom, legs crossed at top)

Triple Play!

Celebrate Stamping with a Triple Play! Create three beautiful mini-albums with our National Stamping Month kit, Triple Play. You'll receive four mini stamp pads, a C-size stamp set, three mini albums, ribbon, instructional brochure, and pre-cut accents for stamping. With all these goodies, you'll be able to complete the three albums in a snap!

Place an order of $40 in stamps, and you can buy this Triple Play for only $5! Place an order of $25 in stamps, and it can be yours for only $15. As always, you can purchase the kit outright...it's $29.95. Contact me with your stamp order and grab your Triple Play today!

Weekend Retreat!

We still have a few spots left for our November Weekend Retreat, but once they're gone, they're gone! If you are interested in attending, please contact me today!!

CLICK HERE for more info about the weekend! :)

August Stamp of the Month Blog Hop!

It's that time again! This month we are featuring the beautiful daisy stamp set, Something Splendid.

If you arrived here from Jen's blog, you're on the right track. If this is your first stop, enjoy the ride! The hop is a circle, so you'll know you're finished when you end back here again. :)

I made a card for this month's hop. August is the perfect month to pick someone to send an "out of the blue" card to! That's just what I'm going to do with this card I created:

I used Twitterpated papers, sweet leaf & sorbet ink, and desert sand cardstock. The card recipe came from the Wishes book.

Now hop on to Melinda's blog to check out her creations with the August SOM! Have fun and don't forget to leave a comment before you go! :)

$2, $4, $6, for 8...It’s YOU We Appreciate!

CTMH is offering a fantastic special with SUPER deals for 8 days only! From August 4-11, while supplies last, you can purchase selected My Stickease® assortments for only $2, My Reflections® Level 1 kits for only $4, and My Reflections® Level 2 paper packets for only $6 on my website (http://melissaburch.myctmh.com). With our large variety of Level 1, Level 2, and My Stickease® products to choose from, everyone can get something they love! To see a list of items for sale click HERE. Happy Shopping!! :)

Scrap-A-Mania Weekend Retreat

Click the picture or the link on the right side of my blog for more info! There are still spots left at the discounted price! Take advantage of that price break and register today! It's gonna be a blast! :)

Blog Candy Winner!

Annette...you're my blog candy winner from the Blog Hop post! Shoot me an email with your mailing info and I'll get your blog candy in the mail!! :) melissaburch@myctmh.com Congrats!! :)

Home again, home again!

It's been just about a week since I arrived home from convention and this is the first time I've had the chance to post. It was a fantastic time and I am so excited about all the new stuff I learned and saw! CTMH has so many awesome products and changes in store, I can't wait to share them all with you! Hope you'll plan to stop by on August 19 anytime between 3-10pm to shop, create, and take a sneak peek on some fun things I have in store for you this fall and winter! There are still spots open to crop, too. CLICK HERE to register to come! (Please fill out the form whether you are cropping or shopping or both! It will help me prepare goodies for you!) Hope to see you there!

Creativity at Convention!

Today was a packed day, full of learning and creativity! We enjoyed Mary Christensen and her inspiring words for business builders this morning. We then sat through two great business classes with tons of information about Studio J! There are so many exciting things I can't wait to tell you all about Studio J! It's even better than before!!

We then put on our creative hats for the create and take and made four darling cards! I'll post pictures as soon as I can!

Convention 2010!!

What a fantastic time I've been having here at Convention in Washington D.C.! Yesterday was leadership, where we learned awesome tips and suggestions on how to build our teams. We also received one of the new Workshops on the Go! It's beautiful!! I can't wait for you to see it!

Today was the first day of the actual convention and it was AMAZING! The staff of CTMH have outdone themselves with the details and decoration, as well as the support and talent shared! They are fantastic!!! The energy here is unbelievable...I love it! (Can you tell?)

We learned of the many new products that are coming up in the fall idea book and new programs that are going to be unveiled from mid July through the end of the year. You will NOT want to miss my fall open house to see the new art, prizes, catalogs, and new product giveaways I'll have for you!!! Plan to Crop and Shop for a few sneak peaks!! :)

Our Team! We rock!

July Stamp of the Month Blog Hop

It's time for our July Stamp of the Month Blog Hop featuring the cutest stamp set, Happy Forever! If you're arriving here from Sheila's Blog, you're on the right track! If this is your first stop, enjoy the hop! It's a circle, so you'll end back here when you're done. There are almost 70 consultants participating in the blog hop this month, so you're sure to see some fantastic projects along the way!

I created two simple projects using this adorable stamp set. The first is a bookmark I made for a friend using textured cardstock and B&T paper from the Emporium paper pack. There is a pewter bitty brad for the little hedgehog's nose. I used white daisy organdy ribbon at the top.

I also made a card with this set, perfect for an Anniversary or a happy event in someone's life. The paper is from the Cherry-O paper pack. Again, the nose of the hedgehog is a pewter bitty brad. I colored the butterfly with hollyhock marker. Simple, yet thoughtful! :)

Now, hop on to Jill's Blog to see what fun projects she's created with this cute set! Don't forget to leave a comment before you go! One lucky commenter will receive BLOG CANDY! Comment before July 7 to qualify for the drawing! Happy Hopping! :)

Crop and Shop!

When: Thursday, August 19
Time: 3-10pm

Join me in my new basement craft area for a fun evening to CrOp aNd ShOp! I am going to convention in July and will be bringing back LOTS of new stuff. Because of that, I need to sell some retired and gently used items to make room! That's where you come in. Stop by to shop and take advantage of these fantastic discounts on some new and some gently used stamps, papers, inks, etc! You won't be disappointed! There will be drawings for gift certificates and new products. It's going to be all sorts of fun! If you would like to crop, spaces are limited so reserve your spot today! :)

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP TO CROP AND SHOP!

Another Goodie Box Day!

I love CTMH!! Today's goodie box is only $60 for $120 worth of fantastic products! How awesome! If you're not interested, make sure to pass along the info to someone who might be!! Thanks!! Here's the link: https://melissaburch.myctmh.com/Retail/Products.aspx?CatalogID=1601

Grab your goodies!!

Today is a Goodie Box day! Get a box filled with popular products at 50% or more off of retail value. Plus you'll get a deal on shipping/handling. Purchase this Goodie Box (retail value $80 US / $93.95 CAN) for only $40 US/ $46.95 CAN. Buy now! This offer is while supplies last and will be snatched up quickly.

https://melissaburch.myctmh.com/Retail/Products.aspx?CatalogID=1601

June and July SOM cards

I made a couple cards tonight using the June Stamp of the Month (left) and the July Stamp of the Month (right).

I think the June Stamp of the Month is perfect for Father's Day cards! I used the Aspen paper pack for a masculine flair. In the right corner are two white daisy bitty brads.

Isn't that little hedgehog adorable? I think I'm going to give my husband that card for our anniversary next week! The papers used on that card are from the Cherry-O paper pack. There is a pewter bitty brad as the hedgehog's nose, too.

I'd love to know what you think...leave a comment if you can! Thanks!! :)

June Stamp of the Month Blog Hop

Welcome to the June Stamp of the Month blog hop! This is a fantastic hop where almost 70 consultants are sharing their inspiration and ideas using the June Stamp of the Month, Wonderful Friend! I hope you enjoy hopping from blog to blog! If you arrived here from Kristie's blog, you're on the right track. It's a circle, so if this is your first stop, you'll end right back here when you're done!

This month's SOM is a cute set especially for dads! I just love it! I created a Father's Day card for my dad, as well as embellished on a layout of my son and husband. This Wonderful Friend is perfect for both cards and layouts.

For this shirt and tie card, I used Desert Sand Ink and White Daisy cardstock. The buttons are pewter conchos and the tie is stamped on the darker side of the blue/desert sand B&T from Animal Cookies, then cut out.

Here is the card all put together.
I plan to write on the tie note card before slipping it into the shirt envelope. Might even slip a gift card in there, too. He'd love that and this would be a great way to "wrap" it.

I love how the pictures look with this stamp set on the layout. I printed the quote using our fantastic CTMH Font CD. All the ink is desert sand, which gives it a distressed look. I used the same B&T from Animal Cookies because I thought it looked great with the neutrals.

Thanks for visiting! Don't forget to leave a comment before you go. I would love to know what you think of my projects! Now, on to the next stop . . . Traci's blog! Have fun! :)

Blog Candy for Newsletter Subscribers!

It's time for some blog candy!! What's blog candy...can you eat it? Nope! Can you unwrap it? Well, I guess you can if you win it! Can you buy it at the store? Nope! You could order it from our awesome idea book, but who wants to do that when you can win it!!?

Blog candy are goodies given away as a thank you for visiting and commenting on a particular blog. This time around, blog candy will be given out to one random winner who has signed up for my newsletter! If you're not signed up, look to the right for the link and sign up!! Then, leave me a comment telling me what you like about receiving my newsletters, or what you would like to see in future newsletters. Post your comment by June 7 for a chance to win some great CTMH blog candy!! It's that simple!! :)

Hit the Jackpot in June!!

Hit the jackpot and win free products in June from CTMH! Check out my website (http://melissaburch.myctmh.com) each day in June to grab loaded Goodie Boxes at 50% or more off retail value! You'll be able to save money on favorite scrapbooking and stamping supplies by grabbing a different deal each day in June. Deals include discounted shipping/handling, too! This special will only be available on my CTMH website from June 1-30. New deals will be posted each day at 11:00 am. Offers are while supplies last. Get ready to hit the jackpot with CTMH!!! :)

Product Spotlight Blog Hop

Welcome to my post for this month's product spotlight blog hop! (If you arrived here from Amy's blog, you're on the right track.) This month we're featuring a card from our fantastic Wishes Card Confidence Program. The City Scape pattern is so cute and perfect for any occasion. I created two simple cards using this pattern.

The horizontal card was made with the new A Little Buzz stamp set, Sarsaparilla B&T, and Juniper cardstock. I curved the "greetings" around the back side of the little bug.

The vertical card was made with the Smiles stamp set, A Little Buzz stamp set, Perfect Day B&T, tulip and juniper cardstock.

Now, hop on over to Karen's blog to check out her versions of this card pattern! It's a circle, so after you check out all the great ideas you'll end up back here! Have fun on the hop! :)

Cards using new stamps!

Here's a video of some beautiful cards my friends made using new stamps from the Summer Idea Book. If there's any stamps you see that you just can't live without, let me know and I'll order for you this week! Enjoy! :)

What do you think of the NEW Summer Idea Book?

You can check it out online HERE. If you would like your own copy to examine in person, please let me know and I'll get one to you! :)

May Stamp of the Month Blog Hop!

Welcome to the May Stamp of the Month Blog Hop! I'm excited you "hopped" by to see my artwork! If you arrived here from Carla's blog, you're on the right track! If this is your first stop, you're in for a real treat! The hop is a circle, so click the link at the bottom of my post to see the next idea using the May Stamp of the Month!

This month we're featuring Cherish the Moment.

I think this set is so fun because I enjoy journaling on my pages, and this is a perfect way to structure my journaling a little differently than I usually do. I used the new paper pack Cherry-o and the Happy Holiday stamp from the May Stamp of the Month to journal (top right corner) on this layout from Easter.

Here's a close up of the stamp I used:

Thanks for visiting! Hop on over to Carol's blog to see the project she created! Don't forget to leave a comment before you go! Thanks! Have fun!! :)

open house cancelled

Just a note to let you know that my open house for tonight has been cancelled. It seems as though this isn't the best timing. If you would like a copy of the NEW Summer Idea Book, please let me know! Enjoy your weekend!! :)

Studio J is here!!

Check out Close To My Hearts NEW online design software!! Studio J helps you easily create beautiful digital scrapbook pages using our foundational scrapbook patterns, exclusive colors, beautiful papers, and thousands of embellishments! It's super easy and the pages are beautiful!! Try it now!! (http://melissaburch.myctmh.com)

Make sure to take advantage of our limited-time introductory offer! The price per printed two-page 12" x 12" layout is $12.95. We also offer some fantastic rewards for larger orders. For purchases of:

• 5–9 layouts in a single order: You’ll receive a pack of 5 Memory Protectors^® free!
• 10+ layouts in a single order: You’ll receive free shipping/handling plus a free pack of 5 Memory Protectors for every 5 layouts in your single order.

Whether you create one layout or 20, you’ll find that scrapbooking in Studio J saves you time and money! Check it out today!!

Open House Friday!

I'm super excited about my Open House coming up on Friday, April 30!! It's from 7-10pm and will include a fun and relaxed evening for you to take a look at the new summer catalog, see the latest and greatest products, enjoy some beverages and munchies, place your orders, and hang out with friends. There will be booking incentives for booking summer gatherings and workshops as well as great specials available for all the new products you want! I hope you'll plan to join me for my open house...and bring a friend! The more the merrier (and you'll get free stuff)! :) RSVP by emailing me (melissaburch@myctmh.com) if you're coming! It's going to be a great night!

April Product Spotlight Blog Hop!

This month we are featuring the Spring papers from the Spring Idea Book! If you arrived here from Mary's Blog, you're on the right path. My artwork was created with the Topstitch papers and coordinating stamps. This paper pack was fun to work with...perfect for springtime events such as Valentine's Day and Easter. Isn't this paper great?! I can't wait to add pictures!

This two page layout was created using the Cherish how-to book.

Shutter card

vertical and horizontal cards

Now, hop on over to Kristie's Blog to see the beautiful artwork she created with the Veranda papers! Have fun on the hop and don't forget to leave your comments!! Thanks :)

DIY Glittered Blossoms card

I didn't think I was going to get this done because it's been a crazy day, but I did...with an hour to spare!! :)


Today's challenge was to design your own glittered blossoms by adding glitter to the tips or entire blossom to create your own fancy embellishments. I used chipboard and sponged it with Pansy Purple ink. Then I used a light coat of liquid glass on the tips and rolled them in Prisma glitter. I think it added just the perfect touch of sparkle! Here's a close-up of the blossom:

Pretty fun!! I have really enjoyed doing these challenges this past week on Spring Break. I'm going to try to keep it up once I get back to school...keeps my brain thinking creatively! :)

Friday Five card!

Today's challenge at 365 cards was quite fun! There must be 5 of 5 things on the card...5 different colors, 5 buttons, 5 patterned papers, 5 stamps, 5 blossoms...you get the point! I used You Rock paper to create a fun and colorful card! The paper had 5 different colors...I added 5 different colored brads...on top of 5 stamped stars...there are 5 layers in my card...and five letters in the word hello. I think I nailed this one! :)

Totally Transferred card!

What a fun challenge this was! Today we were asked to decorate a card using only rub-on transfers. When I first read it, nothing popped into my mind. So, I pulled out my Wishes cardmaking book and thumbed through for inspiration! I landed on the "Keyhole" design and decided to begin creating a card for my hubby. I used the chocolate Love Letters Rub-ons and White Daisy organdy ribbon to decorate this card.

Acrostic Poem card

For the 365 cards challenge today, we were asked to create a card that has an acrostic poem on it. I thought BABY would be perfect, since I have a couple baby showers coming up!

I used Topstitch papers, Hollyhock marker, clear buttons with waxy flax tied inside the holes, and white/chocolate/hollyhock organdy ribbon at the top. The boxes and letters were cut with my cuttlebug. I decided to hand write the poem at the bottom to add a personal touch. Can't wait to see tomorrow's challenge! :)

Terrific Taggies card

Today's card for the 365 cards challenge is inspired by taggies...you know the kids blankets with all the tags!? It immediately made me think of a flower, and since I still had Animal Cookies scraps on my craft desk I used those to create a simple "miss you" card. This card is 3.5x6, so it fits in a small business envelope nicely. I used a big brad to hold all the taggies together to create a flower, then liquid glass to adhere it securely to the card. The stamp is from the Dainty Thoughts stamp set. I stamped it right on the Garden Green ribbon, a technique I love because it is so simple, yet looks fantastic! I inked the edges, but it's hard to see in the picture. Here's my card...hope you like it! I can't wait to drop it in the mail to a dear friend who just moved away. Another 365 card challenge completed! :)

Mojo Monday!

I'm on a creative roll tonight! This card was created with the sketch from the Mojo Monday blog. This week's sketch is:
I thought I would stick with the Animal Cookies paper theme because I really liked how it looked on the previous card. So here's my Mojo Monday creation:

Quilt Card!

It's another card from 365 cards! I'm loving these daily challenges! Today's challenge is I Quilt and here's the sketch:
I had tons of fun creating this 6x6" square quilt card! I used the creative basics and B&T from the Animal Cookies paper pack. On the flower in the top left corner I added a clear button tied with white waxy flax. The "thanks" sentiment was cut from my new cuttlebug dies! I think I'm going to save this card for my son's end of the year gift to his preschool teacher! :)